Location: Raleigh

Grantee Partner SONG Wins Victory Against Hate

After being ejected by security from a North Carolina mall for a mild display of affection, Caitlin Breedlove, co-director of Astraea grantee partner Southerners on New Ground, and her girlfriend took the story public.  Caitlin appeared on multiple news outlets, and that weekend, hundreds rallied at the mall to protest homophobia.

“A lot of people have joked that they messed with the wrong gays, and while we appreciate that, we want to live in a country where ALL marginalized people— LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people of color, immigrants, poor people—are ALL the wrong people to mess with because we understand and harness the power of coming together to demand our dignity,”” said Caitlin Breedlove in her speech at the rally.

The speech reaffirmed the right to free expression and announced a victory: the security force agreed to hold trainings for their staff to address all kinds of discrimination including on the basis of race, gender presentation, sexual orientation, class and ability.

CNN coverage of the protest:

CNN Headline News Joy Beher Show interview

CNN

 

Additional Press:

Bilerico Project
Again, the South shall lead us

 

Channel 14 News
Security guard suspended over same-sex discrimination

QNotes
Cameron Village mall ‘regrets’ alleged discrimination toward lesbian couple

ABC News
Lesbians told to leave shopping center

CBS News
Lesbian couple say they were forced to leave Cameron Village

Feministing
Queer couple forced to leave Raleigh NC shopping center after kiss